Three composers, three different centuries, three different approaches to music, each with their own individual impact; three pieces that you will love!

Beethoven, Brahms, and Estacio! "Who?" You ask, is that last composer? John Estacio, is one of Canada’s leading new composers. His music is melodic, exciting, and based upon the same lines of compositional technique as his counterparts, Beethoven and Brahms. All will be featured on the Allentown Symphony’s Nov 14th & 15th concerts.

“Frenergy” (1998) by John Estacio is exactly what its name implies, “Frenetic – Energy”. In true John Williams’ style, we are swept up with driving brass and punctuated woodwinds. The ever-shifting harmonic structure functions like stair-steps, and we listen to a single harmony at a time, almost in a minimalist style of writing.

The piece “Frenergy” was originally written to be part of the final movement of Mr. Estacio’s Triple Concerto, but when it didn’t really fit there, like all good composers before him, John decided to use the musical material for another piece. No sense in letting a good melody go to waste!

Beethoven was also a composer that reused musical material; often in the same piece. The Third Piano Concerto is an early work, started in 1798, 200 years before John Estacio wrote “Frenergy.” Both pieces make use of short, repeated melodic material. This use of constant repetition makes the piece sound familiar even with just one listening. Beethoven’s rising arpeggio that opens the Piano Concerto is unforgettable and occurs 20 times in the first movement. His sparky rondo motive in the final movement occurs 40 times! It is like an old friend that we look forward to seeing (hearing) again and again.

Brahms is also a man of repetition and innovation. In his Symphony No. 4 (1885), the final movement is based upon a chaconne pattern of 8 notes. These notes are repeated 32 times as a set of variations. Each time, Brahms strives to place other notes upon this harmonic structure that are interesting and unique. For the listener, we have the familiar combined with new musical ideas, happening again and again. It makes for a very exciting piece.

So how do these composers write pieces that we love? It is a combination of having a great motive (music idea – set of notes); developing a repetitive pattern in the form of the overall piece that gives us comfort and familiarity, but also allows for innovation; and creating a harmonic structure that makes sense to the ear and yet sometimes goes in directions that we don’t expect, which keeps our interest.

Sounds easy? Not so! Think of all the composers who have ever written a piece of music. How many have music that has survived over the centuries? How much music is still relevant today as when it was written? Time sifts out the good from the mediocre, and after 100 to 200 years, those that are left standing are the pieces that really move people. Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 and Brahms’ Symphony No. 4, are among those works. In another 100 years or so, I think that “Frenergy” will be there also!

Don’t miss the concerts of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra featuring Beethoven, Brahms, and Estacio, Saturday, November 14th 8:00, Sunday, November 15th 3:00 at Allentown Symphony Hall (23 North 6th Street) Call: 610-432-6715 for tickets. I hope to see you at the concert!